Nicholls introduces new baseball coach

THIBODAUX -- Nicholls State Athletic Director Rob Bernardi disclosed what he called, "the worst kept secret in Thibodaux," by announcing James "Chip" Durham as the new baseball coach Wednesday.

Durham comes to Nicholls from Crowder College, a junior college in Neosho, Mo. Crowder reported on its Web site on Friday that Durham had accepted the job at Nicholls.

"I am really excited about being the next baseball coach at Nicholls State. I am happy to join the Nicholls family," Durham said. "I would like to thank the president and athletics director for giving me this opportunity to come back to Louisiana."

Durham becomes the seventh baseball coach in Nicholls history, replacing former coach B.D. Parker who retired after six seasons.

Durham's hiring leaves only the Colonels' volleyball and track and field teams with head-coaching voids.

Bernardi said that a new volleyball coach was hired Tuesday and will likely be formally announced next week. He added that he also hopes to name a cross country and track coach shortly.

Bernardi declined to name the new volleyball coach.

Durham, 35, said that his energy and recruiting contacts were two reasons he believes he was hired.

"I am young, energetic and I have recruiting contacts throughout Louisiana and the surrounding states. I feel I can build good relationships with the local high school coaches and throughout the state," Durham said. "Coming into the interview, I think, everything was laid out on the table. I know what is on the table and we will do what we can with what we've got."

Prior to becoming the coach at Crowder, Durham, an Alexandria native, served as assistant coach at Northeast Texas Community College for two seasons. He also coached at Texas-San Antonio for two seasons and began his coaching career at the University of Arkansas under former Razorbacks coach Norm DeBriyn.

As a player, Durham prepped at Tioga High School where he was a member of Tioga's 1986 and 1987 Class 3A state championship teams. In 1987, Tioga defeated E.D. White Catholic 6-5 in eight innings for the title.

He went on to letter two years at Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, Texas. Durham finished his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas-Monticello where he served as team captain for two years.

Durham said coming back to Louisiana and the opportunity to coach Division I baseball were what attracted him to the job.

"My goal was to be a Division I coach and this was the opportunity to do that. It is a situation that I looked at this program and it is similar to the program I took over at Crowder," Durham said. "I feel with the energy I can bring to the program, I can get this program headed in the right direction."

At Crowder, his teams compiled a 94-84 record in three seasons.

Durham coached eight players who signed with Division I schools. He also coached two NCJAA all-Americans as well as four players taken in Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft.

During his first season at Crowder, Durham guided the Roughriders to a fourth place finish in the NJCAA Region XVI Tournament.

In 2004, his team finished third in the tournament and was runner-up last season.

That kind of success has Durham confident he can turn the NSU program into a consistent winner.

"I like guys that are athletic and that can run and not clog up the bases. We need to be strong behind the plate and up the middle and in center-field," Durham said. "Obviously, you have to have depth on the pitching staff to give yourself a chance to win. You can have the best offense, but if you can't pitch, then you are going to be in trouble."

NSU Associate Athletic Director Gary Gallup, who chaired the 10-member search committee, said that after interviewing the four finalists, it was clear that Durham was the right choice.

Gallup said the four finalists were University of Arkansas-Little Rock coach Brian Rhees, South Mountain Community College coach Todd Eastin and Central Lafourche High School coach Scott Duplantis.

"One of the reasons (he was hired) was because of his energy and his experience. His experience at Texas-San Antonio and his Louisiana ties were what we liked," Gallup said. "They were all good candidates, but it was a consensus that he was the guy."

Durham said he has spoken with all of the returning players in person or by phone. He plans to get started on recruiting and meet with the staff, and then decide if changes are needed.

"I will try to get some guys in that I was recruiting for Crowder. This late in the recruiting, we may look at some one-year junior college guys who are graduating early and can pass on their final junior college season," Durham said. "It will be tough this late, but it is a matter of putting my nose to the grindstone and pinning my ears back and go to work."